THE CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT PTSD IN ISRAELI CHILDREN
3,600 Healing Arts Kits in response to over 3,600 terror attacks in Israel in the first half of 2023
We invite you to join Artists 4 Israel on our mission to heal those affected by terror by sending 3,600 Healing Arts Kits to Israel to be readily available to children across the country at risk of becoming victims of terror attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Healing Arts Kits focus on prevention – a unique concept in PTSD-focused work. These emergency psychological first-aid Kits were conceived by Jef Campion, a 9/11 first responder and artist, and created by a consortium of psychiatrists, emergency medical technicians, art therapists, artists, and teachers, who based their design on the latest mental health research and art therapy guidelines. Current research indicates that the first 20 minutes of memory after a traumatic event are the most crucial in the development of PTSD and other disorders related to violence exposure. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we make Healing Arts Kits immediately available as an opportunity to distract children by diverting their focus to the various contents of the Kit, therefore limiting further interaction with the traumatic scene, and interrupting the circular feedback loop that creates further traumatization.
WHY 3,600?
Rescuers Without Borders recorded over 3,600 acts of terror throughout Israel in the first six months of 2023. These acts ranged from rock-throwing and stabbing to shootings and rocket attacks. Each attack has the potential to not only affect those directly targeted, but countless members of families and communities who bear witness to the violence. Healing Arts Kits respond to the need to mitigate the lasting effects of these attacks on innocent children.
DELIVERING HEALING ARTS KITS
Kits will be sent directly to our partners in Israel. These organizations are uniquely positioned to ensure Healing Arts Kits are delivered swiftly and effectively by placing them in schools, community centers, homes, and on emergency response vehicles. Early response makes all the difference in disrupting the onset of PTSD, and while the first 20 minutes are the most crucial, intervention remains effective until memories are consolidated during sleep. Our partners strategically store and dispatch Kits so that they reach children within these crucial periods and remain available for use in the aftermath of traumatic events. Kits contain detailed instructions to empower caregivers to stay calm and maximize effectiveness but are designed to be effectively utilized by children alone in cases where a caregiver is not readily available.
THE LASTING IMPACT OF YOUR GIFT
PTSD is a clinically diagnosed disease. Those who suffer from PTSD have lower social and academic development, higher rates of crime, violent behavior, drug and alcohol abuse, and depression, including suicide. While most approaches to the mitigation of PTSD focus on treating existing symptoms, there is currently no cure. Healing Arts Kits focus on slowing or preventing the onset of new cases of PTSD in children during crisis situations in hopes of creating an opportunity for a healthier, more fulfilled life.